Ribbon breaker for fluid driven yarn traverse mechanisms



Oct. 16, 1951 R, F DYER 2,571,694

RIBBON BREAKER FOR FLUID DRIVEN YARN TRAVERSE MECHANISM'S Filed sept. 27., r195o J0 FIG. 1'.

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RICHARD F. DER

Suventor QM J. m7. /m 0MM Gttornegs Patented Oct. 16, 1951 RIBBON BREAKER FOR FLUID DRIVEN YARN TRAVERSE MECHANISMS Richard F. Dyer, Kingsport, Tenn., assignor to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 27, 1950, Serial No. 187,125

This invention relates to a variable speed controlling device, commonly known in the textile industry as a ribbon breaker, for Huid-driven traverse mechanisms such as hydraulic or pneumatic driven traverse mechanisms.

The ribbon breaker device of the present invention, moreover, is particularly adapted for controlling and varying the speed of the pneumatic rapid traverse device described and claimed in my copending Joint application Ser. No. 121,024, filed October 12, 1949, now Patent No. 2,548,523, issued April l0, 1951, entitled Pneumatic Rapid Traverse for Winding Textile Yarns on Cones and Tubes, and can be advantageously described in connection with the operation of that pneumatic device.

In the textile industry yarn is wound on cones and tubes. The mechanism to do this consists of a means for revolving the .package holder and a means for traversing a thread guide to and fro alongthe package axially. The ratio between the package R. P. M. and the traverse cycles per 9 Claims (Cl. 242-43) Another object of the invention is to provide ribbon breaking devices adapted to vary continualLv or intermittentlythe traverse speed of minute is known as the wind ratio. This wind ratio is limited by good practice to values of less than 10 to 1 and preferably close to values of 5 to 1 or 6 to 1 in cases where the ratio can be held xed. However, in winding at a constant yarn delivery rate, it will be recognized that the package speed must decrease progressively as the yarn diameter increases. This causes the wind ratio to vary from a starting value of roughly 10 to 1 to a value of 4 to l at the finish of the winding of a package. Most of the time the ratio will be a complex number, such as 8.749364 to 1. In this case, the yarn is laid on the package in a staggered non-repeating pattern.

However, when a ratio of 5 to 1 or other whole number ratio is encountered, aribbon effect is apparent. That is, each few turns of the package finds the yarn being wrapped directly on top of the precedingl layer and ridges of yarn soon develop on the package. These ridges of yarn are unstable and .break down resulting in tangled yarn, and also causing very severe bouncing of the package against the idler roll with conse` quent yarn damage and poor speed control. The resulting package is of poor appearance. Thus, it will be recognized that a traverse mechanism which is continually varying in speed would be of advantage in winding superior packages of yarn.

An object of the present invention is to provide ribbon breaking devices adapted to vary continually or intermittently the traverse speed of a fluid driven traverse mechanism.

the pneumatic rapid traverses described and claimed in my above-mentioned copending joint application ser. No. 121,024.

Other objects will be apparent hereinafter.

In accordance with one form and feature of the invention,'an intermittently variable fluid pressure ribbon ybreaker is provided comprising a common fluid supply pipe which is divided into two branches. Each branch has the same ilow capacity` as the supply pipe. In one branch pipe is locateda pressure regulator which is set for a predetermined pressure. In the other branch pipe another pressure regulator is set at another higher pressure and is located upstream from a solenoid valve. This solenoid valve is alternately opened and closed by a short cycle on-off repeating timer, preferably a micro-switch which' is actuated by a motor-driven cam. The branch pipes are rejoined in a. common pipe in which a pressure gauge is located to facilitate pressure settings and to check on operation. The latter common pipe supplies fluid to one lor more fluid operated traverses. The changes in pressure in the common pipe produced by the operation of the valve cause proportionate changes in traverse movement. f

In-accordance with another form and feature of the invention, a continuously variable pressure ribbon breaker is provided.' This modification of the invention comprises a uid supply pipe having a solenoid valve located therein and downstream of which is a pressure tank of such size that it can supply a fluid actuated traverse mechanism with fluid for a suitable time with a pressure drop for example of 5 p. s. i. gauge pressure while operating at 40 p. s. i. gauge pressure. The pressure tank is equipped with a pressure sensitive switch which is adapted to open the solenoid valve at, for example, 35 p. s. i. gauge pressure and close it at 40 p. s. i. gauge pressure. Thus, it will be apparent that the fluid pressure which is supplied to the iiuid operated yarn traverse is continuously variable up and down between 35 and 40 p. s. i. gauge pressure with resultant variation in traverse operating Speed.

The invention will be further understood by reference to the following detailed description and related drawing in which:

Fig.`1 is a schematic view of a dual pipe, intermittently variable .pressure ribbon breaker associated with a pneumatically operated traverse 3 mechanism, which is shown partly in section; and

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a single pipe continuously variable pressure ribbon breaker also associated with a similar pneumatically operated traverse mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 1 the ribbon breaker device there shown comprises a pipe III through which flows air under a pressure of 50 p. s. i. gauge. Pipe III in turn supplies air to branched pipes II and I2 each of which has the same ow capacity as the air supply pipe II. In branch pipe II, which may be termed the low pressure pipe, is located a pressure regulator I 3 of the type available commercially. This regulator. for example, is set for a pressure of 35 p. s. i. gauge. Therefore, pipe II delivers air at 35 p. s. i. gauge to common pipe 55 as will be explained more fully hereinafter. `In branch pipe I2, which may be termed the high pressure pipe, a similar pressure regulator I4 is setfor example at 40 p. s. i. gauge pressure and is positioned upstream from a solenoid operated valve 22 which is also positloned in pipe I2. The solenoid valve is adapted l to operate intermittently at a predetermined interval by means subsequently described. Therefore, periodically the air pressure in pipe 55 will be increased by higher pressure air from pipe I2.

Current for operating the solenoid is supplied through wires-I5 and I6 to microswitch I1 and thence through wires I8 and I 9 to the solenoid 2| of solenoid operated valve 22. The microswitch I1 has a circuit closing button 23 therein which when pushed and held inwardly by hinged arm 24, completes the actuating circuit through the solenoid 2I of valve 22. Movement of hinged arm 24 is caused by cam 25 which contacts the cam follower 25 which is rotatably mounted on hinged arm 24. Hinged arm 24 may be caused to thrust toward cam 25 by any suitable spring means. not shown. Cam 25 is attached to shaft 21 and through a conventional gear box 25 to timer motor 25. Power for motor 29 is obtained through wires 3l and 32 which are respectively attached to power source wires I5 and I5. A conventional switch, not shown, may be placed in lines I5 and I5, for connecting this electrically operated apparatus to a main power source. By varying the cam shape or motor speed, the actuation of the solenoid valve and hence air pressure in pipe I2 can be controlled within desired limits.

A typical cycle may be high pressure air on, i. e. solenoid valve open, for ten seconds then oit, valve closed for ten seconds. This time cycle can be varied considerably but generally best results are obtained with a time cycle oi' 15 seconds or less. The branch pipes I2 and I 2 are connected to common pipe 25 to which a pressure gauge 35 is suitably attached to facilitate pressure settings and indicate operation. Pipe 55 supplies the thus modified and controlled air pressure to branch pipes 31 and 58 of `a. pneu- It will be noted that both valve blocks 45 and 75 thus 45 are identical and therefore only valve block 45 will be described in detail. The walls of valve block 45, one of which is not shown, enclose an air chamber 41 and one wall provides a valve stem guide 48 in which valve stem 49 is adapted to move back and forth in a horizontal plane. The valve head 5| is adapted to be seated in valve seat 52 which opens into ashort openended barrel 53 positioned in the valve block wall opposite the valve head. Valve block 45, as stated above, has the same construction as valve block 45 and therefore is not described in further detail.

Positioned between the valve blocks 45 and 48 and in fluid connection with the barrels of each is an open-ended tube 55 having a horizontal slit 55 along its side. Inside the tube 551s positioned a piston 51 having an extension 4I extending through slit 56. the end of which is turned over and provides a slot through which the yarn 42 being traversed onto cone 43 is passed. Since it is desirable to keep frictional losses of piston energy to a minimum, it will be noted that only a portion of the piston surface at 55 and 59 is in contact with the inner surface of tube 55.

The operating cycle of the traverse as affected by my novel ribbon breaker device will now be described. Assuming the piston 51 is at rest in the position as shown in Fig. l, then both valves 5I and 5I would be closed. As stated previously the air pressure would be equal in both pipes and in both air chambers in the two valve blocks.

The piston 51 is then manually pulled all the way to the right end of the tube 55 and the piston 51 forces the adjacent valve 5I to open. The valve momentarily takes the position shown in valve block 45. 'I'he compressed air then rushes past the valve 5I and into the barrel 53 wherein the piston 51 f'lts tightly. 'Ihe compressed air forces the piston 51 out of the barrel 53 in the same .manner as an air gun does a bullet from its barrel. 'I'he thrust on the piston 51 is suiilcient to push the piston to the opposite end of tube 55 where it strikes the head of valve 5I.

The action on the piston 55 isvthus repeated in the opposite direction and the piston first comes to a sudden stop and then travels again through tube 55 in the other direction and knocks open the valve 5I, is again reversed, and so on.

The space between the piston and the valve seat is relatively small and a very small air volume fills this space. This high air pressure. however, acts on the piston to stop its motion and reverse its direction and to propel it toward the other end ot the tube. The air flow required to move the piston to the end of the barrel is still small. However, as soon as the rear end of the piston clears the barrel end, the high pressure air ow greatly increases. This increased now of air in the space between the valve produces a low pressure suiiicientto overcome the inertia of the open valve and valve stem friction. and the valve closes after the piston clears the barrel in the valve block. 'I'he force required to open the valves can be controlled by the physical properties of the valve and by the size of the bevel on the forward face of the valve head.

Thus, when, as in Fig. l, this type of pneumatic rapid traverse is attached to my novel ribbon breaker the piston receives a diierent propelling force at the intervals determined by the movement of cam 25. The yarn guide 4I traverses yarn 42. obtained from a source not shown, back and forth the package Il. Idler roll 40 contacts the package I3 .as it is wound.

y.The formation of ribbon etlects on the cone is,

therefore, prevented.

Referringto Fig. 2, a modiiication of my ribbon breaker device is shown. This device comnism 88 with air for a suitable time, for example, ten seconds, with a pressure drop of about p. s. i. gauge pressure while operating at, for example, 40 p. s. i. gauge pressure. A pressure gauge 85 is attached to pipe 15. The tank 12 is in iluid communication through pipe 'I3 with a pressure sensitive switch 14 which may be set to open solenoid valve 1I, for example, at 35 p. s. i. gauge pressure and close it at 40 p. s. i. gauge pressure. Current for the operation of the solenoid 89 of solenoid valve 'Il is supplied through wires 86, 81 and 88, the circuit being opened and closed as above mentioned by switch 14. Thus, it will be seen that this air pressure supplied through pipe 15 to branched pipes 16 and 11 of rapid traverse mechanism 80, which is constructed and operates the same as that described in connection with Fig. 1, is continuously variable up and down between 35 and 40 p. s. i. gauge pressure with resultant variation in speed of travel of yarn guide 8l and consequent prevention of ribbon formation as yarn 82 is wound on package 83. An idler roll is shown at 84.

A typical example of the operation of a fluid driven traverse mechanism in accordance with my present invention is the following. Assum ing a package speed of 2400 R. P. M. and a traverse speed of 600 cycles per minute, it will be noted that the wind ratio is 4 to 1, and the yarn will repeat every four revolutions. If the package diameter is large, a great amount of yarn will be wound, and the package will become ridged in the period of perhaps five minutes it takes tok change appreciably the wind ratio due to increase package diameter. If, however, it takes 40 p. s. i. air pressure to run the traverse at 600 cycles per minute and 35 p. s. i. will run the traverse at 520 cycles per minute. and a ribbon breaker is employed, the wind ratio will vary from 2400/600 (4 to 1) to 2400/500 (4.87696 plus to l). Thus, in the case of the device of Fig. 1, the `even wind time is cut to less' than one-half of the normal time. In the case of the device in Fig. 2, the even wind time is virtually zero since the pressure is steadily changing with a resultant steady change in traverse speed. Generally, the device of Fig. 1 has sufficient ribbon breaking action to eliminate the possibility of sub-standard yarn packages caused by even winds.

While the ribbon breaker has been described herein as particularly applied to the pneumatic traverse shown in copending application Ser. No. 121,024, it mayalso be employed with other types of iiuid powered traverse systems either gas or hydraulic driven. Needle valves would be substituted for the pressure regulators in the case of hydraulic operation.

In the following claims the term package also includes cones, tubes or similar articles on which yarn is usually wound.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

6 traverse mechanism which is adapted to wind yarns or the like on a rotating package comprising in combination means for supplying liuid under pressure for operating the traverse mechv anism with means for varying said iiuid pressure to produce a change in rate oitravel of said traverse mechanism whereby ribbon formation during winding is prevented.

2. A ribbon breaker device for a fluid/operated traverse mechanism which is adapted to wind yarns or the like on a rotating package com prising in combination means for supplying iluid at varying pressureswithin predetermined maximum and minimum limits for operating the traverse mechanism with means for gradually restoring the pressure to its maximum after it reaches its minimum whereby ribbon formation during winding is prevented.

3. A ribbon breaker device for a uid operated traverse mechanism which is adapted to wind yarns or the like on a rotating package comprising in combination means for supplying uid under pressure for operating the traverse mechanism with means for periodically varying said uid pressure to produce a change in rate of travel of said traverse mechanism whereby ribbon formation during winding is prevented.

4. A ribben breaker device for e uid operated traverse mechanism which is adapted to wind yarns or the like on a rotating package comprising in combination means for supplying fluid under diminishing pressure over predetermined maximum and minimum limits to said mechanism, means for supplying uid under increasing pressure over the same pressure limits to said mechanism and means for restoring the pressure to its maximum after it reaches the minimum whereby ribbon formation during winding is prevented.

5. A ribbon breaker device for a pneumatically operated traverse mechanism which is adapted to wind yarns or the like on a rotating package comprising in combination means for supplying air under pressure for operating the traverse mechanism with means for periodically varying said air pressure to produce a change in rate of travel of said traverse mechanism whereby ribbon formation during Winding is prevented.

6. A ribbon breaker device for a pneumatically operated traverse mechanism which is adapted to wind yarns or the like on a rotating package comprising in combination 'neans for supplying air at varying pressure within predetermined maximum and minimum limits for operating the traverse mechanism with means for gradually restoring the air pressure to its maximum after it reaches its minimum whereby ribbon formation during winding is prevented.

7. A ribbon breaker device for a pneumatically operated traverse mechanism which is adapted to wind yarns or the like on a rotating package comprising in combination means for supplying air under diminishing pressure over predetermined maximum and minimum limits, means for supplying air under increasing pressure over the same pressure limits, and means for restoring the air pressure to its maximum after it reaches the whereby ribbon formation during 1. A ribbon breaker device for a uid operated u under predetermined Pressure. a second Pipe in uid communication therewith and havingr a pressure reducing valve therein adapted to supply air at a lesser pressure to a fourth pipe which is in fluid connection with the traverse mechanism, a third pipe in fluid communication with said iirst pipe and having a pressure reducing valve therein adapted to supply air at a pressure intermediate to those pressures in the iirst and second pipes to said fourth pipe, and an intermittently operated valve in said third pipe adapted to periodically permit air to now from said rst pipe to said fourth pipe and cause a variance in pressure of the air introduced into said fourth pipe from said second pipe whereby the traverse mechanism operates at non-ribbo forming rates.

9. A ribbon breaker for a pneumatically op- 8 erated traverse mechanism which is adapted to wind yarns or the like on a rotating package comprising in combination a pipe for supplying air under pressure, a tank adapted to receive air from said pipe and for storing air under pressure and for supplyingv air over a predetermined range of increasing and decreasing .pressures to a traverse mechanism, a valve in said pipe, a pressure actuated member associated with said tank adapted to open said valve at a minimum pressure and to close the valve at a maximum pressure thereby effecting operation of the traverse mechanism at non-ribbon forming rates.

RICHARD F. DYER.

No references cited. 

